Project: Pillow in Port House Antwerp

Project: Pillow in Port House Antwerp

The new Port House in Antwerp appears to float above the old one, it simply represents the idea of a single, flowing facade like an organic object. The former fire station now has a shimmering, jewel-like volume, which references Antwerp, the diamond city. An external bridge provides the link between these two structures.

The formal closeness of the existing building contrasts with the dynamic open-office structure of the new building. This new structure supports flexible working practices: employees simply swap desks to suit the type of activity they need to engage in. The building brings together 500 staff members, people that before worked in separate buildings around Antwerp. As a result, managing the acoustics within the open spaces is a crucial point of attention in the interior plan.